Refrigerator



M. C. TERRY REFRIGERATOR Dec. 23, 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov` 19, 1925 w u w s 4 n w a ffm/ 5 V 9 2 ///////f// .0 f/Mv/ a .W m .l HUH s ////V l a n w 4 a N 4 INVENTOR WITNESS ATTOR N EY Dec. 23, 1930.

M. c. TERRY 1,786,370

REFRIGERATOR Filed Nov'. 19, 192s s sheets-sheet :5

C Terr WITNESS NVENTO ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATSON C. TERRY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUBE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA aumentaron. v

Application led November My invention relates to refrigerating machines and particularly to small capacity machines of the compression type which are suitable for household use and it has for an object to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall operate reliably and effectively for extended periods of time. It has for a further object to provide a refrigerating machine which shall embody a novel structure for condensing the refrigerant vapor and which shall have facilities for cooling the condensed refrigerant prior to its entrance into the evaporator.

These and other objects, which will be made apparent throughout the further description of my invention, may be attained by the employment of the apparatus hereinafter descr-i ed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fi ure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly 1n elevation, of one form of refrigerator arranged in accordance with my invention; Figure 2 is a view, in section, taken on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line III-III of Figure l; Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed vicw,in sectional elevation, of the condensin and compression mechanisms employed 1n the refrigerator shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of the condensing and compression mechanisms shown in Figure 4 and Figure 6 is a partial View, in elevation, of another form of condensing chamber which I may employ and which is similar to that shown in Figures 4 and 5 with the exception of the arrangement-.of the cooling fins.

The installation of the compression mechanism, that is, of the compressor and its driving motor, in a sin le fluid tight casing possesses numerous a vantages lnasmuch as a very compact arrangement is provided, the use of a stung box is avoided, quiet operation is insured and leakage of the refrigerant Huid is prevented. The entire arrangement of `the refri erating mechanism may be still more simplied by utilizing the enclosing casing as a condenslng chamber and as air cooling is generally preferred to water c0oling, the heat of condensation may be absorbed through the Walls of the casing by a current,

19, 1925. Serial No. 70,118.

of air circulated by a blower or similar a paratus. However, the casing enclosing t e compression mechanism, as ordinarily constructed, does not possess suflicient external surface to dissipate the required amount of heat and it therefore becomes necessary to augment this surface by the provision of some form of cooling fm. The process of attaching these coolin fins to the casing, if performed in the well nown manner generally employed with the manufacture of various types of heat exchange apparatus, considerably complicates the structure of the casing and materially increases its manufacturing cost.

I have, therefore, conceived the idea of providing an undulated, or pleated, or luted heat radiating member adapted to be wrapped around the casing and which is held in excellent Contact therewith by a suitable jacket or shroud, the assembled structure having been immersed in a bath of molten tin for forming a single or integral structure. The heat flow from the casing to the radiatin member is facilitated by the metallic bon formed between these two structures by the tin. By this means, a stamped or forged casing may be employed, thus avoiding the poroslty and weight of cast casings. In addition, the jacket or shroud which retains the fins iii position may be extended to form a housing for the blower employed for circulating the air, the blower ing preferably superimposed upon the condensing chamber and arranged to discharge the air downwardly between the condensing chamber and the jacket.

Another feature of my machine consists of providing a cooling coil in the jacket, which cooling coil is arranged in the path of the air discharged by the blower. This cooling coil is utilized to reduce the temperature ofthe condensed refrigerant rior to its entrance into the evaporator w ereby, after having passed through the expansion valve, the cooled condensate assumes a still lower temperature and the capacity of the machine is thus increased. Another feature of my machine consists in so arranging the condensing chamber within the machinery compartment that all of the air discharged by the blower is compelled to pass over the con- (lensing chamber.

The above features, together with numerous other features to be described hereafter, cooperate to provide a refrigerating machine well adapted for domestic installation and for effective operation under the exacting requirements of household use.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed descripton of my invention, I show in Figures 1, 2 and 3 a refrigerator box 1() having an upper or cold storage compartment 11 and a lower compartment l2. In most refrigerating machines heretofore constructed, this lower compartment 12 has been completely occupied by the condensing and conlpression mechanisms. However, luy condensing and compression mechanism are of such compact design and are composed of such few parts that they occupy only a relatively small portion of this lower compartment. Accordingly, I sub-divide this lower compartment into a small machinery coinpartment 13 and a relatively large storage compartment 14. The latter compartment is preferably arranged to receive dry stores and the temperature prevailing therein is the same as that of the surrounding atmosphere. An access door 15 is provided for the cold storage compartment while two access doors 16-16 are provided for the storage compartment 14. My refrigerator box is preferably so constructed that there is no access to the machinery compartment 13 from the front portion of the box. However, in the rear of the box I have provided a removable cover 17 by means of which complete access may be had to the interior of this cornpartment. I may also, if I desire, so arrange the division wall 18 that it may be removed from the refrigerator box after the removal of the cover 17 Located in the machinery compartment 13 is a unitary structure 21 embodying the condensing and compression mechanisms.

As shown in Figure 4, the unitary structure 21 comprises a casin 22 having disposed therein a structure 23 or supporting and housing a compressor 24 together with its driving motor 25. The compressor 24 is preferably of the rotary, two stage type. The structure 23 forms what may be termed a motor housing 26 and a lubricant receptacle 27. The compressor 24 is provided with an inlet port 28 and a discharge port 29. Located directly above the discharge port 29 is a baffle 31 which is so arranged that any liquid discharged through the port 29 is impinged thereon and deflected into the lubricant receptacle 27. Both the casing 22 and the structure 23 are secured through bolts 32 to a removable base plate 33, removal of the latter permitting inspection of the entire compression mechanism.

Surrounding the casing 22 is an undulated or rufiled heat radiating member 34 which I preferably construct in one piece and then wrap about the casing as shown in Figure 5. The member 34 is retained in excellent contact with the outer surface of the casing 22 by means ot a jacket 35 which surrounds the member 34 and which is provided with end clamping means 36 adapted to compress the heat dissipating member between the casing and the jacket. The entire structure is preferably dipped in a bath of tin or some similar substance so that the casing 22, the heat radiating member 34 and the jacket 35 are formed into a single or integral structure. W'ith such an arrangement, the undulated heat radiating member forms a plurality of substantially V shaped cooling tins which make autogenous contact with the casing as well as with the jacket so that the area of not only the V shaped fins but the jacket 35 as Well is utilized to dissipgate the heat. In this way, the casing 22 may e made by stamping or forging or some comparatively inexpensive process of manufacture totally disassociated from the manufacture of the cooling fins. Furthermore, the cooling tins may be assembled upon the casing in a very short time and at very little cost. By providing very eliicient cooling fins, such as disclosed herein, the casing 22 may be made comparatively small.

The jacket 35 is provided with a detachable extension 37 which houses a blower 38. The blower 38 is driven by an independent motor 39 located in a housing 4l which in turn, is supported in the blower casing 37 by suitable hrackets 42. The blower 38 is arranged to draw air inwardly through the upper or entrant portion 43 of the jacket and to discharge it downwardly through and between the Vs formed hy the heat radiating member 34. rl`he air i'inally emerges from the lower or exit portion 44 of the jacket.

Provided in the base plate 33 is a refrig erant vapor inlet 45 which connects through a passage 46 with the bore of the motor shaft 47, thc latter in turn heilig connected through a passage 48 with the inlet port 28 of the compressor. Condensed refrigerant fluid is discharged from the casing 22 through an outlet 49 provided in the base plate 33, which outlet connnunicates, through a conduit 51. with a cooling coil 52 arranged in the lower portion ot' the jacket 37.

As most household refrigerating machines operate only intermittently, it is advisable lo provide a check valve between the hi gh and low pressure portions of the machine in order to prevent rapid equalization of pressures and consequent loss of refrigeration during the idle or shut oli period.

A check valve 50 is therefore provided in the conduit 51 for preventing the back flow of condensed refrigerant Huid into the condensing chamber, as the latter normally contains no accumulation of condensate. However. the practice heretofore has been to locate this check valve in the vapor conduit connecting the outlet of the evaporator with the inlet of the compressor but I prefer to locate it in the conduit connecting the outlet of the condenser with the inlet of the evaporator for the following reasons: When the check valve is located in the evaporator conduit connecting the outlet of the evaporator with the inlet of the compressor, its operation is noisy because the slugs of liquid entrained in the refrigerant vapor exert a constant hammering action upon the movable ball or disc withn the valve body. In addition, the Work required to retain the ball or disc away from its seat reduces somewhat the vacuum which the compressor is capable of maintaining within the evaporator and this consequently reduces the capacity of the machine. On the other hand, where the valve is located in the condensed refrigerant, there is a constant passage of nothing but a relatively small volume of liquid and all hammering action is eliminated. Furthermore, because it is not located between the compressor and the evaporator, it does not affect the vacuum Within the evaporator. It is therefore apparent that locating the check valve in the position illustrated possesses numerous advantages as it insures more eii'ective as well as more quiet operation of the machine.

The cooling coil 52 communicates through a conduit 53, shown in Figures 1 and 2, with an evaporator 54 located in the cold storage compartment of the refrigerator box. Provided in the condu`t 53 is a float valve 55 for controlling the flow. of refrigerant fiuid to the evaporator. Refrigerant vapdr generated in the evaporator is returned by a conduit 56 to the inlet 45 of the condensing and compression mechanism.

The unitary structure 2l, which embodies condensing and compression mechanisms, is preferably supported upon the bottom wall 57 of thc machinery compartment 13. A rubber or felt pad 58 may be inserted between thc base plate and the bottom wall in order to insulate the vibration of the compression mechanism from the refrigerator box. Air is supplied to the blower through an opening 59 provided in the upper portion of the removable plate 1'7 while the air is discharged from the refrigerator box through outlets 61 provided in the bottom wall 57. Suitable screening material 60 is arranged over both the inlet 59 and the outlet (il to prevent the ingress of anything which might interfere with the successful operation of the machine. A division wall 62 is provided in the machinery compartment. This division wall engages the jacket 35 of the unitary structure 21 and compels all air discharged by its blower 38 to pass between the jacket 35 and the casing 22. The division wall 62 is preferably made in two portions so as to permit removal of the fmtire structure 21 from the machinery compartment. The front and rear walls of the refrigerator box are provided with downwardly extending portions 63 and 64 respectively which reach almost to the supporting structure or floor and which extend throughout the entire length of the box. These extending portions form a duct for conveying air discharged through the outlets 61 to opposite ends of the refrigerator box.

The operation of the above embodiment of my invention is as follows:

Assuming the machine to be in operation, the compressor 24 discharges through its discharge port 29 compressed refrigerant vapor. rI`he refrigerant fluid which I prefer to employ consists of a refrigerant and a lubricant, such as ethyl chloride and mineral oil, which together form a physical solution and which is disclosed in a co-pending application of A. A. Kuchers serially numbered 617,844, liled Februar)T 8, 1923 and entitled Working fluid for refrigeration. Any liquid entrained in the evaporator discharged by the compressor is separated therefrom by the balile 31 and falls into the lubricant receptacle 27 after which it is utilized to lubricate the working parts of the machine.

The refrigerant vapor completely fills the casing 22 and heat is absorbed therefrom through the constant passage of air downwardly between the jacket 35 and the casing 22. The condensed refrigerant thus formed is conveyed by the conduit 51 to the cooling coil 52 and a lar e portion of the sensible heat of this liquid 1s abstracted in its passage through the coil by the circulating air. In this way, the refrigerant liquid is cooled so that after passing through the float valve 55 into the evaporator, or region of relatively lili low pressure, expansion causes it to assume an extraordinarily low temperature.

Heat is abstracted from the cold storage' compartment of the refrigerator box in a manner well understood in the art and the vapor generated within the evaporator by this heat absorption process is returned by the conduit 56 to the inlet 45 of the compression mechanism, whereupon the cycle of operation is repeated.

The blower 38 draws the air required for condensing purposes inwardly through the opening 59 provided in the rear wall of the refrigerator box. This air is then discharged downwardly over the cooling coil 52 and is discharged at the lower end 44 of the jacket 35 to the outlets 61 provided in the bottom wall of the box. This relatively warm air is then prevented from iiowing up along the front or rear walls of the box and entering either the cold storage compartment or the air inlet 59 by the downwardly extending members (53 and ($4. The latter form a duct which compelsl this warm air to pass outwardly to the ends of the box. In addition, because of the dividing wall (i2, all air discharged by the blower is compelled to pass between the casing 22 and the jacket 255 as this is the only means of communication provided between the air inlet portion of the machinery compartment and the air outlet portion. In this manner very etective cooling and adequate condensation of the refrigerant fluid is effected with a mininnim amount of heat radiating surface.

In Figure 6 I have shown still another form of condensing chamber which consists of the casing 22 and the jacket 35 as heretofore descril'ed. However, each cooling tin is undulated and is made separately, the respective cooling fins being held in contact with the easing By shaping the cooling fins in this manner, additional heat radiating surface is obtained over that derived by employing straight fins and consequently the condensing chamber may be made proportionately smaller. Furthermore in passing through the spaces between these tinted tins, the air becomes turbulent and gives up its heat more readily.

llhile I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications. without departing from the spirit thereof. and I desire, therefore that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

what I claim is l. In a refrigerating apparatus, the comlfination ot' an evaporator, a condenser. a fluid-tight casing enclosing a motor and a compressor, substantially V shaped cooling tins provided upon the outer walls of the casing, a jacket surrounding the cooling fins, and a blower for passing air between the casing and the jacket.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, a condenser, a fluid-tight casing enclosing a compression mechanism, substantially V shaped cooling h'ns provided upon the casing, and a blower disposed at a higher elevation than the casing for passing air thereover.

il. ln a rcfrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, a fluid-tight casing forming a. condensing chamber, a compreslsion mechanism disposed within the casing, .Lubstantially V shaped cooling fills provided upon the casing, a jacket surrounding the cooling tins, and a blower superimposed upon the casing for circulating air between the casing and the jacket.

4. In a refrigeratingapparatus, the combination of a compression mechanism, a closed casing forming a condensing chamber, a acket surrounding the casing, a blower for circulating air between the casing and the jacket, a cooling coil located in the jacket. means for conveying condensed refrigerant fluid from the casing to the cooling coil, an evaporator, and means for conveying the cooled condensed refrigerant fluid from the cooling oil coil to tbe evaporator.

` 5. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a refrigerator box having a cold storage compartment and a machinery compartment, an evaporator disposed in the cold storage compartment, a compression mechanism and a condenser disposed in the machinery compartment, said condenser having a surrounding jacket for conveying air, an air inlet provided in one portion of the machinery compartment and an air outlet provided in another portion of the n'iachinery compartment, a blower associated with the condenser for creating a current of air from the inlet through the jacket to the outlet, and a division wall engaging the jacket and sub-dividing the machinery compartment into an air inlet compartment and an air outlet compartment. whereby all of the air passing from the inlet to the outlet is compelled to pass through the condenser acket.

(i. In a refrigerating apparatus, the conibination of a refrigerator box having its bottom wall spaced from its supporting structure, an upper cold storage compartment and a lower machinery' compartment provided in the box, an evaporator provided in the cold storage compartment, compression and condensing mechanisms disposed in the machinery compartment, an air inlet for the machinery compartment provided in one of the vertical walls of the box. an air outlet for the machinery compartment provided in the bottom wall of the box, and a` baille formed by a downward extension of the rear wall of the box which contains the air inlet, whereby the heated air discharged by the outlet `in the bottom wall of the box is prevented from traveling upwardly along that vertical wall of the box which contains the air inlet.

7. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a refrigerator box having its bottom wall spaced from its supporting structure, an upper cold storage compartment and a lower machinery compartment provided in the box, an evapm'ator provided in the cold storage compartment, a compression mechanisln and a condenser disposed in the machinery compartment, an air inlet for the machinery compartment provided in one of the vertical walls otl the box, an air outlet for the machinery compartment provided in the bottom rall of the box, and a duct formed by downward extensions of the front and rear walls of the box for conveying the discharged air tothe sides of the box.

8. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an eva orator, and a heat-dissipating,r unit inclu ing a compressor and a driving motor therefor, a fluid-tight casing enclosing the motor and compressor, and means for radiating heat from said casing, said means comprlsng an annulus of fins surrounding the casing and maintained in heat-conducting relation with the casing by a clamping means encircling the outer edges of the lfins.

9. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator, and a heat-dissipating unit including a compressor and a driving motor therefor, a Huid-tight casing enclosing the motor and compressor, and means for radiating heat from said casing, said means com prising an annulus of fins of zig-zag formation surrounding the casing and maintained in heat-conducting relation wlth the casing by a clamping means encircling the outer edges of the fins` In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this sixteenth day of November, 1925.

MATSON C. TERRY.

8. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an eva orator, and a heat-dissipatin unit inclu ing a compressor and a driving motor therefor, a Huid-tight casing enclosing the motor and compressor, and means for radiating heat from said casing, said means comprising an annulus of fins surrounding the casing and maintained in heat-conducting relation with the casing by a clamping means lo encircling the outer edges of the fins.

9. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator, and a heat-dissipating unit including a compressor and a driving motor therefor, a Huid-tight casing enclosing the 15 motor and compressor, and means for radiating heat from said casing, said means comprising an annulus of fins of zig-zag formation surrounding the casing l.1nd maintained in heat-conducting relation With the casing 20 by a clamping means encircling the outer edges of the fins.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this sixteenth day of November, 1925.

25 MATSON C. TERRY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,786,370. Granted December 23, 1930, to

MATSON C. TERRY.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 7S, claim 4, strike out the word "oil"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of February. A. D. 193i.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,786, 370. Granted December 23. 1930, to

MATSON C. TERRY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 75, claim 4, strike out the word "oil"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of February, A. D. 193i.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

